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importance and at the time of the execution of the Bill of Sale and the delivery of the slaves farther incapacitated from attending properly to his own interest by the too free use of ardent spirits. And he knows that he would have taken care to secure his rights under the contract aforesaid in a better manner than he did do but for his unfortunate [illegible] at the time. He further states that the sum of money agreed to be paid by said Stevens was not half the value of the said slaves. And knowing the unfortunate condition in which he was then he charges that the said Stevens took deliberately advantage of him and procured the slave & bill of sale aforesaid from him. The said Stevens holds the receipt of your orator for $220 which he procured from him. Your orator hardly knows how but without paying him any money therefor or any thing equivalent to the money. Your orator has made some purchases from said Stevens and has done some work for him and may possibly have given the said Stevens some receipts but however that may be he knows and charges that he has never receipted the whole of the $800 in value. At the time of the Bill of Sale, owing to your orators incapacity to do business, being then a pliant tool in the hands of said Stevens your orator did not get from him the written obligation which he promised him at the time of the sale but afterwards he did succeed in getting from said Stevens, to wit in the month of march or April 1845 an obligation under his hand & seal to the following and as nearly as the persons who frequently saw it is your orator's possession can remember in the following words.